According to World health organization, Oral cancer is the No.4th common cancer among the population and with the same pace by 2040 it will become No1. It is the most aggressive type of cancer and it hampers the lifestyle of a person very drastically,
What causes Oral cancer?
A large number of etiological factors have been implicated in the development of oral cancer, these include,Regular consumption of tobacco,Gutka,Pan chewing,Cigarettes,Reverse smoking,Consumption of alcohol,Vitamin A, B-complex and C deficiency,Ill-Fitting or broken dentures,X-Ray radiations,Viral infections etc
Who is it commonly seen in?
It is most commonly seen amongst youth these days due to their addiction towards tobacco and alcohol consumption, Youths of today are not just inviting oral cancer at an early stage they are also getting prone to systemic diseases like cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and lever failure at an earlyage of their lives due to such habits.
What are the symptoms of Oral cancer?
In the initial 2 stages patient usually complains of Burning sensation and unable to consume hot or spicy food, Bleeding from gums, Pain or difficulty in swallowing, White or red patchy appearances in any part of the mouth,In the later 2 stages, Patient complains of difficulty in mouth opening, rigidity and stiffness in the oral tissues making it loose its elastic property,The mouth opening of a healthy individual is around 5cm for male and 4.5cms for a female, where as in oral cancer patients the mouth gradually reduces from 50mm to 30mm to 20mm and eventually becomes 0,In the later stages, non healing ulcers which are present in the oral cavity for more than 2 weeks are commonly seen causing difficulty in food consumptions.
When can it be identified?
Unlike, any other cancer for example, lung caner where advanced diagnostic aid like bronchoscopy is required to identify and diagnose, Oral cancer can be easily identified and diagnosed, as it can be seen with naked eyes as soon as the patient opens his/her mouth. If patients visit their dentists regularly or at any early onset of symptoms like burning sensation or non-healing ulcers,It becomes convenient to diagnose at an early stage and to plan the treatment to cure it.
Can it be cured?
If it is identified at an early stage, Yes, definitely it can be cured,People have a wrong notion about oral cancer and its cure but with the availability of advance technology and treatment options and also the increased expertise of Oral and maxillofacial surgeons it is more easy now a days to identify and completely cure the disease if patient visits the dentist at an early stage,
What happens when the patient visits at the later stages of Oral cancer?
If the patient visits the doctor at the end stage of oral cancer the mouth opening is restricted or when the tumour has spread to adjacent structures and lymph nodes it becomes difficult to cure the disease and only palliative treatment can be given but curative treatment is not possible.
What is a Biopsy?
Biopsy is the removal of tissues form the suspected ares for the purpose of microscopic examination and diagnosis,
When an oral surgeon identifies a cancerous or pre-cancerous lesion in the oral cavity he sends the tissue for biopsy for better understanding of the type of cancer and for the better treatment planning.
A message to the society
As oral cancer is the most aggressive type of cancer and it affects the lifestyle of the person drastically, We advice you to consider the habits that causes a deadly disease of this kind and a regular visit to your dentist can help you to get diagnose about any suspicious lesions that can cause malignant tumours at an early stage so that it can be properly treated and you can lead a normal and healthy life like any other human beings.
